Electric Vehicle Production: Fewer Parts, Greater Planning Challenges

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Electric vehicles (EVs) have been identified as the centerpiece of future transportation and logistics, providing a greener alternative to traditional fossil fuel-consuming vehicles. There were nearly 5.4 million hybrid electric vehicles on American roads and around 1.4 million full electric “plug in” vehicles, with these figures expected to rise in coming years. So, what does …

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Composable APS/MES Solutions for Factory Optimization

Execution always varies from plan. We bake inefficiencies into our planning process by buying insurance in the form of extended order lead time, safety stock, lower planned machine utilization, overtime, expedited freight and premium freight to reduce the risk imposed by this variance. In some cases, we pay penalties in addition to this insurance depending …

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Key takeaways from the Smart Factory Expo

Smart Factory Expo 2025 insights

Key Takeaways from the Smart Factory Expo This year’s Smart Factory Expo in Birmingham felt like a turning point. The event was busy, energetic, and packed with ideas, but beneath the noise, a more focused conversation is beginning to take shape in manufacturing. This new undertow, if you like, is less about hype and more …

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Transformation Starts at the Top

Transformation Starts at the Top: Why Leadership Alignment and Strategic System Choices Matter More Than Ever

Transformation Starts at the Top Why Leadership Alignment and Strategic System Choices Matter More Than Ever The concept of digital transformation in manufacturing is now a familiar one. But while the language has settled into industry norms, the execution remains inconsistent, and often, disappointing. Why? Because transformation isn’t driven by tools. It’s driven by alignment. …

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Challenges of Electronics and Storage Manufacturing

Challenges of Electronics and Storage Manufacturing

Challenges of Electronics and Storage Manufacturing Electronics and storage device manufacturers face ongoing operational and supply chain challenges due to internal disruptions, geopolitical events, and socioeconomic issues each day. Below are several key challenges that have significantly impacted their supply chains. Disruptions appear to be the biggest culprit, as events both within and outside the …

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Key Takeaways from the Latest Gartner Supply Chain Conference

Gartner - Symposium

Key Takeaways from the Latest Gartner Supply Chain Conference True to its tradition, this year’s US Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo also brought together supply chain professionals, technology providers, and analysts from all corners of the world. We all came together at a time when many in the industry are seeking more than just inspiration; they’re …

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Unlocking Buildable Schedules: The Case for Smarter Allocation

Unlocking Buildable Schedules: The Case for Smarter Allocation

Unlocking Buildable Schedules: The Case for Smarter Order Allocation In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and supply chain landscape, achieving operational efficiency extends well beyond raw materials and manpower. It begins with one crucial foundation: buildable schedules. However, to reach this point, businesses must first address one of the most complex challenges in planning: order allocation.  The …

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Can LLMs Plan Your Supply Chain? 

LLM AI Supply Chain

Can LLMs Plan Your Supply Chain? For the past couple of years, we have all been inundated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is going to change the world as we know it. There’s no doubt it will have an impact, but the real question is, how? When it comes to supply chain planning, …

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FIFO vs. LIFO vs. Average Cost Method

FIFO vs. LIFO vs. Average Cost Method

What is the difference between the average cost method, FIFO, and LIFO methods of inventory value calculation, and why does it matter? Inventory is a crucial component of a business’s financial statements, and it is essential to know how to calculate and record inventory costs. Inventory costs are important for managerial decision-making and for tax purposes, and there are different ways to calculate them, such as the average cost method, FIFO, and LIFO.

The Master Production Scheduling Guide

The Master Production Scheduling Guide

Master production scheduling is a production planning process that creates a central document a master production schedule or MPS that tells you what make to stock or sales orders you need to manufacture, what quantity of these products your factory needs to produce, and when these products need to be completed.